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Head-to-head Updated

Michelin CrossClimate vs Michelin Defender LTX M/S — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.

Defender LTX M/S leads, 76–73 Narrow edge

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Tire AMichelin

CrossClimate

All Season

Tests 74 · 2 tests Owners 72 · 152 reviews

Best test result: #2 of 10 in 2015 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test (overall ranking)

Tire BMichelin

Defender LTX M/S

All Season

Tests – · 1 test Owners 78 · 10 reviews

Best test result: #3 of 13 in 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires (overall ranking)

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 75

    Dry

    Defender LTX M/S +1
    76
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimateDefender LTX M/S
    Professional tests (TWG score)77–
    Reviews found online7381
  2. 75

    Wet

    Defender LTX M/S +3
    78
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimateDefender LTX M/S
    Professional tests (TWG score)75–
    Reviews found online7681
  3. 68

    Snow

    Defender LTX M/S +4
    72
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimateDefender LTX M/S
    Professional tests (TWG score)71–
    Reviews found online6473
  4. 72

    Comfort

    Defender LTX M/S +1
    73
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimateDefender LTX M/S
    Reviews found online7576
  5. 69

    Noise

    Level
    69
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimateDefender LTX M/S
    Professional tests (TWG score)71–
    Reviews found online–74
  6. 72

    Treadwear

    Defender LTX M/S +4
    76
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimateDefender LTX M/S
    Professional tests (TWG score)7374
    Reviews found online7178
  7. 72

    Handling

    Defender LTX M/S +6
    78
    Why this score
    SourceCrossClimateDefender LTX M/S
    Reviews found online7278
Scores at a glance
CategoryMichelin CrossClimateMichelin Defender LTX M/S
Relative Score 73 76
Dry 75 76
Wet 75 78
Snow 68 72
Comfort 72 73
Noise 69 69
Treadwear 72 76
Handling 72 78

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

Weight the categories that matter to you

Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score

CrossClimate

Defender LTX M/S

The professional test results behind the scores

Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.

DisciplineCategoryCrossClimateDefender LTX M/SΔBoth?
Overall Ranking Overall 50% #2/10 · 2015 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test 83% #3/13 · 2022 Consumer Reports All Season Truck Tires −33.3 Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A CrossClimate

Pros

  • Exceptional tread life and durability
  • Strong wet-weather grip and hydroplaning resistance
  • Reliable traction in light snow and cold conditions

Cons

  • Tendency to pick up and retain small stones in the tread pattern
  • Noticeable drop in performance as tread depth decreases
  • Potential for reduced fuel economy compared to dedicated summer tires
All owner themes in the CrossClimate review

Tire B Defender LTX M/S

Pros

  • Exceptional tread longevity and mileage lifespan
  • Quiet and smooth ride quality at highway speeds
  • Strong year-round traction across dry, wet, and light snow conditions

Cons

  • High upfront purchase price
  • Subpar performance in deep mud, sand, and off-road environments
  • Limited ice and severe winter capability compared to dedicated winter tires
All owner themes in the Defender LTX M/S review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Michelin CrossClimate B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
CategoryAll SeasonAll Season
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverSUV and 4x4

Which one should you actually buy?

Michelin CrossClimate

Michelin Defender LTX M/S

Winner: Michelin Defender LTX M/S — better handling, snow and treadwear. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 78 vs 72 on handling.

Pick tire B You drive through snowy winters

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 72 vs 68 on snow.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 76 vs 72 on treadwear.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Defender LTX M/S scores 78 vs 75 on wet.

Tire A · Michelin CrossClimate
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Tire B · Michelin Defender LTX M/S
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How do we compare tires?

Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.

Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.

76

Narrow edge

Defender LTX M/S

Amazon